Purchase of Endnote, citation management software, for access by all UCF students, faculty, and staff.

Priority #4

Sections

Project Description

Endnote is citation management software used by researchers, graduate students,
and undergraduate students to organize and manage citations, images, and PDF files.
With Endnote, users can organize an unlimited number of sources into libraries and
add the full text PDF to each record. When researchers or students are ready to
create a manuscript, Endnote will format in-text citations and create bibliographies
in over 4500 citation styles. Access to this software for all users will provide
a dependable platform for both PC and MAC users to keep track of all sources.

To add references into Endnote, users can search hundreds of bibliographic databases
through Endnote. Students will be able to create an unlimited number of libraries
of any size. The software contains 46 customizable reference types covering a variety
of materials from ancient texts to web pages.

Endnote will also locate and download full text. Select one or more references
or the entire library and Endnote will scan for full text. When the full text is
found, Endnote downloads and links it to the appropriate reference automatically.

Users can import a file or folder of PDFs directly into Endnote. Basic bibliographic
data is extracted by Endnote. Users can store up to 45 files per reference in the
“File Attachment” field using a simple drag and drop feature.

Users can use the “Cite While You Write” feature to create instantaneous bibliographies
as citations are inserted into a paper. Endnote includes bibliographic features
that address a wide range of formatting issues in the humanities, biomedicine, physical,
life, and social sciences.

The features and functionality included in Endnote make it a worthwhile investment
for all students. The UCF Libraries purchased Endnote in 2003 with a 3-year contract
that ended in 2006. Budget cuts left the library unable to continue funding this
purchase. The library has not purchased Endnote since 2006.

Student Access to Project Resources

Total number of students served by the project:

Because UCF will own the software, Endnote will benefit not only the current
53,644 students and 1,700 faculty , but will meet the instructional and research
needs of the UCF community into the future.

Percentage of target student population to be served by the project.

One hundred percent of UCF students and faculty will have access to and will
be served by the purchase Endnote. The software is beneficial to students in all
disciplines in all levels of their academic life.

Benefit to Student Learning

In an increasingly complex information landscape, students need to have a grasp
of information management. The purchase of Endnote will directly support student
learning by providing students with a tool with the full range of citation management
features needed for 21st century technology skills.

Organizing and managing information is at the heart of student learning and is
critical to the successful conclusion of many student projects, including theses
and dissertations. Graduate students, honors students, as well as faculty researchers
will use Endnote to complete major research projects with more efficiency.

In addition to graduate students, undergraduates will use Endnote to enhance
learning. With the implementation of the new Writing and Rhetoric program and the
President’s emphasis on “writing across the curriculum”, more assignments will presumably
have a writing and research component. Also, UCF has placed a higher emphasis recently
on undergraduate research through programs sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate
Research. Endnote will be a valuable resource for undergraduate students learning
the research process.

Endnote can also serve students as a virtual “portfolio” of sources used in projects
throughout their academic careers. Students who use the software for each research
project will have a virtual snapshot of their research throughout their academic
life at UCF.

While the software is used as an organizational tool, it can also be a used by
faculty to teach students how to avoid plagiarism. Endnote promotes academic integrity
and combats plagiarism by teaching students a method to more easily organize and
manage their sources used in projects and papers. Students will learn to make the
connection between managing citations and citing sources using this software.

Project Success Metrics and Assessment Plan

The Libraries will measure the success of the purchase of Endnote through usage
data and link analysis. The number of software downloads will give the Libraries
an indication of use by the student and faculty population. Attendance for instructional
sessions for Endnote will be measured, as well as hits to an online instructional
“research guide” for Endnote.

The use of Endnote will also be promoted through the University Writing Center,
the Office of Undergraduate Studies, the College of Graduate Studies, and the Faculty
Center for Teaching and Learning. Strong relationships already exist between the
UCF Libraries and these colleges and units.

Project Sustainability

After purchasing EndNote at $30,000 for one year, the Libraries will retain access
to the version of EndNote released during the contract year, and will continue to
provide access to that release as long as the software has utility for students.
After several years, updates to word processing software make it more difficult
to efficiently use older releases of EndNote. The Libraries will also continue to
provide workshops on the use of EndNote beyond the contract year.